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National Preparedness Month
Every September, National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized to raise awareness about preparing for disasters and emergencies before they happen. NPM was established in 2004 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to highlight the increased need for emergency preparedness.
- Did you know? The annual campaign for NPM was launched in response to Sept. 11, 2001, tragedies.
- In 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the first Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) to spread knowledge and awareness about the growth of natural disasters. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) created its own OEP in 2002. In 2023, the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response became its own division.
This year, FEMA will focus on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities for their NPM 2024 campaign. This focus stems from access and language barriers these communities face when preparing for emergencies.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) also coordinates preparedness and response activities through the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Division. It provides guidance to local public health agencies, tribal governments, and health care organizations as they develop plans and protocols for responding to public health threats. Along with AANHPI communities, MDH is focusing on individuals with health conditions, disabilities, and functional needs for their NPM 2024 campaign.
Join us in recognizing National Preparedness Month!
The director's office in the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Division provides oversight for coordinating division activities, guiding policy development, and managing stakeholder relationships. The office supports EPR staff to ensure collaboration among the agency, effective communication internally and externally, as well as leading efficient efforts during a response.
Cheryl Petersen-Kroeber is the director of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). She has over 20 years of experience in government public health and has worked in emergency preparedness since 2003. In addition to her leadership and policy development responsibilities at MDH, Cheryl also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health where she teaches several courses to students enrolled in the Emergency Preparedness program. Cheryl is the past chair for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Directors of Public Health Preparedness Executive Committee. Cheryl is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Senior Leadership Institute at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Enterprise Learning & Development.
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Deb Radi is the assistant division director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, overseeing operations and supporting Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) and Healthcare Preparedness Programs (HPP). With 15 years of experience, she started as a pandemic planner during H1N1 and has held various roles, including incident manager for COVID-19. Deb holds a Bachelor of Science in social work and a master’s in business administration. Prior to MDH, Deb worked as a regional emergency medical services coordinator and as a manager for the American Red Cross delivering health and safety programs and responding to disasters. Outside of work, she is married with two children and four grandchildren. Deb enjoys spending time with family, camping, and biking.
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Laural Mattson is the business continuity coordinator and mass fatality planner. She began this role in January 2023. Prior to that, she worked at the Minnesota Department of Health on the exercise and training team, starting in October 2018. Most recently, she worked for Target in their corporate command center and began her career in western North Dakota with Stark County Emergency Services. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in emergency management. Her background and prior work experience are primarily in emergency management, with a crash course in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Although Laural spent many years in North Dakota, she is a Minnesota native and currently resides in Woodbury with her husband, Steve, and their four kids. When not on the baseball fields or driving from one activity to another, she enjoys traveling to large bodies of water, seeing stand-up comedians, and catching live music around the Twin Cities.
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Christy Becthold is the emergency preparedness and response communications planner at the Minnesota Department of Health. Her role entails developing strategic communication plans, coordinating statewide crisis and emergency risk communication trainings, and providing support for information dissemination during an emergency.
Previously, she worked as a public health specialist, community health assessment coordinator, preparedness coordinator, and COVID-19 response lead at the Polk County Health Department in Wisconsin, as well as held positions within the medical field. Christy is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in public health administration and policy at the University of Minnesota, and obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. When not at work, Christy is an avid exerciser, enjoys sightseeing and traveling across the globe, as well as spending time with her family, especially with her energetic nieces and nephews.
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Mickey Scullard is the emergency preparedness and response coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Health. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Macalester College, her Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctorate in Public Health in advanced leadership from the University of South Florida. Mickey has 31 years of experience in public health. She has managed crisis responses to events such as COVID-19 and H1N1 and has expertise in developing emergency response plans and training.
In addition to her professional work, Mickey is a University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension Volunteer Master Gardener and enjoys reading cozy mysteries, knitting, crocheting, and traveling.
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Ruth Thiesfeld is the office administrative specialist principal in the emergency preparedness and response division at MDH, where she has worked for 13 years. Ruth holds degrees in elementary education and human resources business management. She enjoys the variety and challenge of her work and is known for her dedication to helping others. Ruth is married with two grown sons and has two rescue dogs. Outside of work, she enjoys Minnesota United FC games, golfing, biking, and off-roading. Before joining EPR, she worked in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control (IDEPC) Division and began her state career with the Board of Nursing.
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The Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (UMN SPH) partnered together to launch a week-long drone camp for middle and high school students to introduce them to public health. The program teaches students key public health concepts, explores career opportunities, and demonstrates how drones are used in the field. Each day starts with a public health overview, followed by lessons on piloting drones. Students learn how they and their drones can contribute to protecting public health. Guest speakers will share their personal experiences to help students better understand the use of drones. A video demonstration and more information can be found here: drone camp.
Shawn Wilson and Jackie Ulven from Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office.
In response to potential mass fatality events, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Consortium have enhanced their preparedness by setting up a temporary morgue. The Disaster Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU) is a specialized set of equipment located at the Metropolitan Airports Commission but can be deployed anywhere within the state. The purpose of this drill was to inventory all resources, decommission outdated technology, and integrate new equipment into the existing trailers. This resource is a crucial part of Minnesota's fatality management system.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office now coordinates the DPMU, a role previously managed by the Minnesota Department of Health. Shawn Wilson, administrative manager, and Jackie Ulven, operations manager, both from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office and members of the Medical Examiner’s Consortium, have played pivotal roles in this initiative. This transition includes managing the equipment and resources, with additional support from the Minnesota Department of Health to ensure all necessary resources are available for potential mass fatality events.
The Minnesota Department of Health manages the human resources component of the DPMU through a team called the Disaster Mortuary Emergency Response Team (DMERT). DMERT has around 100 members from across the state, each bringing varied expertise to the team, ranging from dentists and dental assistants to forensic anthropologists and many other disciplines. Although the unit has not been activated, training exercises are typically held every three years. The DPMU and DMERT are crucial areas of the state’s mass fatality planning.
Attention public health professionals! The University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health (UMN SPH) has the perfect opportunity for those looking for learning opportunities. UMN SPH is offering two courses, “Basic Risk Communications Concepts” and “Role of the PIO in Public Health Response." Both courses are free of charge and open to anyone interested in earning continuing education credits. These courses focus on the importance of communication during public health emergencies. With September being National Preparedness Month, these two courses are great opportunities to develop communication skills, overcome barriers, and understand the importance of public health responses. For additional information or questions on how to earn Continuing Education Units, please visit Courses - Continuing Education and Outreach - School of Public Health - University of Minnesota.
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